Victor Mecoamere

Victor Mecoamere

Shona Khona is a thriving nursery transforming the lives of hundreds of aspirant soccer stars every year.

While this nation-building education-through-sport initiative is to help children learn more about soccer overseas, those who impress but fail to jet out of South Africa get a chance to develop themselves further in local soccer academies.

So far, Tyrone Sandows of Gauteng is into his second year of advanced soccer training and higher primary school academic development at the soccer academy of the famous Sao Paulo FC in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Another Shona Khona recruit, Thabiso Makena, got a chance to try his luck together with Sandows, and was invited back to the famous Brazilian soccer nursery for three months.

He is now back home, improving his abilities and skills.

Yet another impressive Shona Khona find, Sifiso Mnguni, is currently learning the ropes as part of under-19 squad of Premier Soccer League side, Platinum Stars.

Five others who are enrolled at the Safa and Transnet Sports School of Excellence at Elandsfontein, in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, are 14-year-old Bongani Mocksin, and 16-year-olds - Kwanele Nkosi, Tumisho Morerwa, Jerry Nkwane and Godfrey Molemela.